John Aldag of Langley has been granted "qualified candidate" status, and is thus the first and only candidate for the Liberal Party in the new Cloverdale– Langley City riding, to run in the 2015 federal election.

A nomination meeting will take place on Thursday, July 3 at St. Andrew's Anglican Church in Langley.

“A strong economy is the key to a Liberal government’s support of individuals, communities and our nation,” Aldag said. “I look forward to championing the Liberal promise to deliver change through hard work and hope - based in reality.”

“As part of Justin Trudeau’s team, I will work to ensure ongoing, stable investments in our nation’s infrastructure, to guarantee we are poised to grow and prosper. Canadians have seen years of stagnant household income and increasing personal debt. To secure the prosperity of Canadians and Canada, a federal Liberal government will invest strategically, tax wisely, spend appropriately, and maintain a balanced budget as we have in the past. The Liberal Party of Canada is able to deliver on these requirements for a strong and healthy Canada,” Aldag said.

He noted that 10 years of work by government led by Jean Chretien and then Paul Martin eliminated the deficit, returned to balanced budgets and left a surplus for successive governments.

Aldag, his wife Elaine and their three school-aged children have lived in Langley for the past nine years. He worked at Fort Langley National Historic Site and is now on an unpaid leave to vigorously pursue the nomination.

He has been on the Tourism Langley board, Fort Langley Child Care Society board, and is current chair of Flip City Gymnastics.

He will be directing his energy to seeing the Liberal Party under Justin Trudeau form the next government in 2015.

Aldag and the Liberal Party stands for a Smart on Crime approach to the many issues that we see facing our communities in the Lower Mainland.

“We need to work with, not against, our legal system. Legislation needs to protect the rights and safety of our citizens, without a doubt. But we also need to rethink some of our historic approaches to crime. The Liberal Party’s approach to being smart on crime and marijuana is one such example of rethinking entrenched approaches to law enforcement.”

Along with a strong economy and a renewed response to crime in our communities, Aldag and the Liberal Party of Canada are encouraging discussions on seniors’ issues, the military, our nation’s place on the global stage, sustainable health care, affordable post-secondary education, a cleaner environment, the energy sector including pipelines, democratic reform, and other issues that are important to residents of Surrey and Langley.

The son of a Gull Lake, Saskatchewan pioneer cattle-raising family, Aldag has a strong grasp on the need for food security. His university degrees have propelled him into a series of challenging federal government positions throughout Canada that offer him insight into workings of governments and the politicians that lead them.

His wife, Dr. Elaine St. John, is a local physician who currently practices primarily at Langley Memorial Hospital.

“I welcome the opportunity to represent the people of the Cloverdale – Langley City riding in ensuring your priorities are met,” Aldag concluded.

Those interested can visit johnaldag.ca to learn more about him and to join the federal Liberal party.

Memberships are $10/year, and are available to anyone living in Canada who are 14 years and older.

The federal Liberals recently named a constituency executive in the riding. The party is “hitting the ground running” in Cloverdale-Langley City, president Matthew Boulton told Black Press.

The next step is to begin the nominee selection process for a candidate who will carry the Liberal banner in the next federal election in 2015.

“We want to get somebody in as quick as we can, so we can start promoting them,” Boulton said. “We don’t want a long, drawn out affair.”

Aldag is organization chair of the new electoral district association board. He has worked for Parks Canada for 31 years and is currently on unpaid political activity leave.

The Liberals participated in the recent Cloverdale Rodeo Parade.

Boulton conceded the federal Liberal party has “strong uphill battles in pretty much all of our Fraser Valley constituencies.”

He cautioned the association is still in its infancy. “It’s a brand-new riding. It’s going to be an exciting time for all parties.”

Boulton said he believes the Liberal party’s tradition of developing policy from the grassroots – and the message being spread by party leader Trudeau – will appeal to voters in both communities.

“We align what Cloverdale and Langley City is looking for,” he said. “I think our chances are very good. I don’t think any of us would be here if we didn’t believe in change.”

The top three positions on the electoral district association executive are filled by people from Cloverdale, but otherwise the board is split between those who hail from the historic Surrey town centre and Langley residents.

Boulton and vice president John Nuraney, a former MLA for Burnaby-Willingdon (2001-2008), live in Cloverdale, as does treasurer Simon Cumming.

— with files from Jennifer Lang, Cloverdale Reporter

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